The Horrors @ The Metro: Part Two

So I've slept on it and yes, I still agree that the show was amazing. They abandoned everything from Strange House, playing only songs from their new album Primary Colours. While I don't think their first album is a write off, it really doesn't have anything on Primary Colours, so I think it was a good move on their part.

The songs were a little looser than the recorded versions, which is not to say they lacked technical polish. In fact, it seemed a conscious effort to veer slightly closer to their earlier garage band incarnation, and is probably the only logical way these songs could be performed by The Horrors' dueling personalities.

I've heard some say that they are ripping off Interpol, but give them some credit, at least say they're ripping off Joy Division. That's just one of their influences though, much like the Britpop bands of the mid nineties merged music from the 60's, 70's, and 80's into a new sound, The Horrors are merging sounds from the late 70's, 80's and 90's. You can hear Can, Kraftwerk, and New Order on the more electronic side, and Bauhaus, Echo And The Bunnymen, and even a strong My Bloody Valentine presence pooling all that post-punk has to offer.

I suspect that The Horrors have a great future ahead of them, and maybe in a few years Strange House will be one of those re-examined first albums of a great band. However, I think Primary Colours will be remembered as their true starting point.
All the good ones wait 'til the second album to show their stripes...they're joining the likes of Radiohead, The Clash, and Blur on that point.

I was more excited than I usually am to see this show, a level of excitement I usually only get to experience before seeing bands I've loved for years. I've literally had all the songs from Primary Colours as the "screen saver" in my head. If I'm daydreaming, the soundtrack is The Horrors. They didn't disappoint, in fact they reinforced my new found obsession with everything they're up to.

Here's a video mash up of some of the show...taken in true Victorian Horror crumbly quality: